Colorado Nursing Home Administrators (NHA) Practice Exam

What must a facility do if it exceeds its bed capacity?

1. Provide the Department with verbal notice with time of implementation and a written report within 14 calendar days after implementation explaining the emergency situation and actions taken

2. Submit a detailed financial report to the Department

3. Notify patients directly through formal letters

4. Adjust their staffing schedules temporarily

The correct answer is: Provide the Department with verbal notice with time of implementation and a written report within 14 calendar days after implementation explaining the emergency situation and actions taken

If a facility exceeds its bed capacity, it is crucial to inform the Department promptly and formally. Providing verbal notice with the time of implementation ensures immediate awareness of the situation, while submitting a written report within 14 calendar days after implementation explains the emergency situation clearly. This notification helps the Department assess the facility's response to the situation and any actions taken to mitigate the issue. Option A is the correct answer as it outlines the necessary steps a facility must take in this scenario. Options B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not address the required protocol for informing the Department about exceeding bed capacity. Submitting a detailed financial report (Option B) may be necessary for other types of reporting requirements but is not the immediate action needed in this situation. Notifying patients directly through formal letters (Option C) is important for transparency and communication with residents but is secondary to the regulatory requirement of informing the Department. Adjusting staffing schedules temporarily (Option D) may be a result of the increased capacity but is not the primary step required by regulation.